title: SnoRNAs as tools for RNA cleavage and modification.
abstract: Eukaryotic small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) influence rRNA synthesis at two stages: nucleolytic processing and selection of nucleotides to be ribose methylated (Nm) or converted to pseudouridine (psi). The two modification functions and some processing activities involve direct base pairing of snoRNA with rRNA. In addition to rRNA-targeting sequences, snoRNA function depends on the presence of conserved box elements involved in snoRNA synthesis and localization. The present investigation is directed at using snoRNAs as tools for two purposes: 1) introducing nucleotide modifications into novel sites in rRNA and other snoRNAs, and: 2) targeting nucleolar RNAs for destruction using snoRNA:ribozyme chimers ('snorbozymes'). Early results demonstrate that snoRNAs can be used for both applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst 01003, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Samarsky
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferbeyre
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cedergren
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Fournier
mesh_terms: D002466:Cell Nucleolus; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D011560:Pseudouridine / Q000378:metabolism; D012323:RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012342:RNA, Small Nuclear / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012335:RNA, Ribosomal; D012342:RNA, Small Nuclear; D011560:Pseudouridine